I was impressed with the PCO collab Piccadilly. I also stayed around the store and picked up a few things and added a few to my wish list. Their designers really fit my style.
SSD designers collabing with "someone special"? May as well just confirm it's Flergs... -- It's definitely Flergs because Deep Girl inadvertently used her name on SSD Sneak Peeks.
Has anyone bought CU from Studio Emka and how's her quality? I want to buy her feathers but the 100% up-close doesn't look that great. I wonder if it is just the preview.
#8 I bought some lace from her , and it is not consistent in quality, some a great , some are really having junky edge... I have the feeling that she stretched out some of them
Just finished D/L the Digi Parade. Im very happy with almost all of it . Didn't bother with a few, mostly Digi Chicks designers. Have never liked their stuff. WTF was with Clever Monkeys contribution, a bunch of scribbles? Almost all the designers put in some real effort , which is much appreciated.
Does anyone have or come across One Story Down's Facebook hop preview? I'm not familiar with the store and want to check out the hop, but didn't find any previews.
And I salute SBG, SSD, TLP and others that don't regularly have open calls and most of their designers have been invited. ---------- Are you high??? SBG just had a giant call not even 6 months ago and Maya was literally begging designers from other shops to join hers. Times have changed. Evidenced by Flergs leaving too.
12 - I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does.
I loved the DSP blog train EXCEPT for Crystal Livesay's part. She needs to find a service to use other than Tradable Bits. I will not give them access to my account and she's lost me as a customer too.
Any designer here ever get a request from a customer for free stuff due to them not having money to shop the big sales? I got one from a customer and I don't know what I should do.
14-That is why I don't CT for any of them. Besides that, I don't like the store. Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
I loved the DSP blog train EXCEPT for Crystal Livesay's part. She needs to find a service to use other than Tradable Bits. I will not give them access to my account and she's lost me as a customer too. ----------- Maybe she reads here because I just downloaded her part and no Tradeable Bits at all and I am glad. I love her templates!
Any designer here ever get a request from a customer for free stuff due to them not having money to shop the big sales? I got one from a customer and I don't know what I should do. __ I'm not a designer but I am flabbergasted that anyone would do this! Let me get this straight. The customer is asking you to give her stuff, that other people pay for, free?
I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does. __ I would NEVER ct there. It would drive me nuts! KCB and Libby Pritchett are the absolute WORST at this. They're both nice ladies but they need to seriously get their shit together.
# 22 - I'm not the one who brought it up, but I am also a designer who was emailed for free kits today too. Just out of curiousity, I checked to see if this person was a previous customer, and I can't even find a record of them ever making a purchase from me. Why would I give them free kits? Jeez, the nerve of some people. Is this happening to anyone else? I'm not going to bother to respond.
I know some people don't have a lot of money which is why I like to give out freebies and $$$ off coupons on my facebook page. But to blatantly ask for free kits? That is kind of low.
You can't fault them for trying. You also can't fault me for saying "fuck off" when they ask me to give away product for free for no good reason at all.
I was really pleased with the SBB Facebook Hop. Didn't like the Gingerscrap hop colors. Annoyed at all of the 4shared, mediafire etc. on the MScraps Hop. I liked the SO train and almost all parts of the DSP were really well done. What hops have I missed?
14-That is why I don't CT for any of them. Besides that, I don't like the store. Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
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I am a CT on several teams there and have been for several years. I have never had problems uploading at the standard 600x600 size. I know that one of the girls that used to be a CT member was having this issue, but it' wasn't a size issue. For some reason, the file behaved as though it was never "saved for web" in the first place. Perhaps you aren't saving them correctly, or you need to check your save settings. I 14-That is why I don't CT for any of them. Besides that, I don't like the store. Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
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I am a CT on several teams there and have been for several years. I have never had problems uploading at the standard 600x600 size. I know that one of the girls that used to be a CT member was having this issue, but it' wasn't a size issue. For some reason, the file behaved as though it was never "saved for web" in the first place. Perhaps you aren't saving them correctly, or you need to check your save settings. I doubt that one person can have a problem and others don't.doubt that one person can have a problem and others don't.
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...?
WTF. Scrap Orchard's DSD bingo card is only downloadable through 4shared? no thanks. I don't need any viruses because you can't figure out how to host that on your own server.
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...? -- Deep Girl is not joining SSD. She did, however, out Flergs as the one who is early this morning when she did her sneak peek for Nicole. Libby came in fairly soon after and edited Flergs' name out of the post.
I know some people don't have a lot of money which is why I like to give out freebies and $$$ off coupons on my facebook page. But to blatantly ask for free kits? That is kind of low. _ If they don't have enough money to buy kits there is ample, quality free stuff all over the internet. It takes some effort to look for it and go to different places to get it but, geez, asking for charity to scrapbook? Just when ya think you've heard it all.
Could you explain why you don't like Tradable Bits please. Is it unsafe to use, or another reason? Thanks. __ I have no idea if it's safe and I don't want to find out. I don't want to give information to a third party I don't know just so I can download a template or anything else for that matter.
I feel like there are less chats and events this year than previously. Am I just missing them? -- Someone says this every year. There is all kinds of stuff going on at almost every store. What kind of events did you have in mind?
I have no idea if it's safe and I don't want to find out. I don't want to give information to a third party I don't know just so I can download a template or anything else for that matter. -------------------
So disappointed with DST's November kit... DST used to have quality stuff for their gold members, but now they're just blah. ScrapStacks too... none of the things in the pack that I'd buy :(
Studio Flergs is on the list of designers. No products in the store though http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=43
I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does. __ I would NEVER ct there. It would drive me nuts! KCB and Libby Pritchett are the absolute WORST at this. They're both nice ladies but they need to seriously get their shit together.
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Further proof that KCB reads here on the blog, because this just showed up on her personal FB page last night:
"On weekends like DSD, NSD, Black Friday etc I'm always so so thankful for all of those on my creative team, fellow designer creative teams and the sugarbabes for the amount of work they put in to helping out the digital scrapbook designers. The time they give up for us helping to get our designs shown to the degree they are would be mostly impossible if it wasn't for them. I realize that most people enjoy it and that it is getting your memories down and helping to afford your hobby but it really can be time consuming and I just want you to know that I appreciate it :) "
a.k.a. I know I suck and give you products 4-6 hours before my release goes live, and I know I'm getting bashed about it on the smack blog, so let me offer a sweet sentiment and hope that it smooths things over so that you'll keep being my bitch next week again
I think one of the reasons that DSD seems to have less hype is that many stores and designers have settled into a DSD routine over the last couple years. There aren't as many surprises.
How on earth is Flergs going to keep up with SSD's weekly release schedule? Plus they don't seem to allow that 20pc collection format that she always did. It's a strange move all around. I know she can just re-release old product for a while, but then what?
The fact SSD took an Ok designer like Flergs who hasn't released much at all in over a year shows their desperation. Looks like sales are down at SSD and they're hoping to gain her customers.
so that you'll keep being my bitch -- I'd tell her to stuff her free designs. Sounds like her head has outgrown her talent. Her work is getting to be mighty repetitious and her attitude sucks. How about she get her act together for once and get her kits to people so they have a decent amount of time to create with them? They have families, jobs and other things to do then wait for her to finally get them what they need so they can meet her deadline. I'd be furious if she referred to me as one of her "bitches" and would have no problem telling her so.
The fact SSD took an Ok designer like Flergs who hasn't released much at all in over a year shows their desperation. Looks like sales are down at SSD and they're hoping to gain her customers. ---- In your opinion she's an "okay" designer. Others may see it differently. Just because SSD gained a new designer does not mean their sales are down. That's quite a leap to make, and, even with your logic makes no sense. If Flergs is an okay designer then she probably doesn't have that many customers, right?
ScrapStacks too... none of the things in the pack that I'd buy :( __ YES! The last two months have especially been AWFUL! I used to buy from them every month but not now. I absolutely hate that thing by Dawn Inskip.
I've CTd for many designers. Some have their stuff ready a week early, some are last minute. But the last minute ones never ever expected us to drop everything and have a page done in an hour so they'd have it for release. They all seemed to realize they were last minute, and just said to work with it when we got a chance, even if that was 2 days later. Makes no difference to me if I scrap before or after the kit is released, so it doesn't bother me when they post it. If they wanted layouts before it went live, they'd post it sooner.
ITA with 63. All the designers (past and present) whom I've CTed for have never expected a LO RightThisFreakingMinute if they gave us stuff late. If they can't get their shit together and give the CTMs at least 2 days' time, then why should their CT have to scramble to make a LO? I thought some stores had a cut-off time for new releases? Like, if you don't have your product in the shop by Weds. at 11pm EST, then it won't be released that Friday.
#59 what was bad about last month's ScrapStacks? I missed last month and off to look at this months. ---- They had some really awful Tangie Baxter thing (the colors were atrocious) and some hybrid organizer box thing from Wendy B (I think). If I want an organizer, I'll buy one, not make one that will last two seconds.
SSD didn't even make a DSD forum for challenges, giveaways, contests or anything. Talk about lame. _ It is lame. Robin's answer to the question of why is that they decided to go low key. Well, I hope that works out for them. It's hard to go low key and keep your customers happy at the same time. The attitude from her and the designers who chimed in was like it was just too much trouble. Well, these people are in business and they're supposed to be working, right?
But the last minute ones never ever expected us to drop everything and have a page done in an hour so they'd have it for release. __ Maybe not, but, regardless, there's an implied need to rush, especially when SSD has their sneak peeks. Can't really have a sneak peek after the kit has been revealed so while the designer may not SAY a rush to scrap is required, it is implied because of the deadline.
On weekends like DSD, NSD, Black Friday etc I'm always so so thankful for all of those on my creative team, fellow designer creative teams and the sugarbabes for the amount of work they put in to helping out the digital scrapbook designers. __
This doesn't just occur with her on these "busy" weekends. It's a regular practice of hers. I do believe she thinks because she's a popular designer that she can get away with it, and she does. However, like someone else said, her work is getting boring and stale. One kit looks like another and one of the reasons for that is she uses some of the same elements from kit to kit (as does Ju Kneipp and Studio Basic).
It is lame. Robin's answer to the question of why is that they decided to go low key. Well, I hope that works out for them. It's hard to go low key and keep your customers happy at the same time. The attitude from her and the designers who chimed in was like it was just too much trouble. Well, these people are in business and they're supposed to be working, right? ______________________________ Agree with this 100%.
so while the designer may not SAY a rush to scrap is required, it is implied because of the deadline.
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With KCB it is not even implied. I am positive her last call stipulated that you had to be available on Friday night to scrap for her before she released kits. It's the reason I didn't bother applying. The problem with her is that she won't ever change because people DO apply to her team, and so she can continue that practice.
Some people don't get their panties in a wad about scrapping last minute, either. If working last minute works for her and she has a CT that doesn't mind, why should she change? Because some tool on a trash blog says she should?
I work full time and don't have time to scrap m-th, so scrapping fridays is pretty normal for me. My kids are usually off with friends at whatever high school sport is playing on friday nights or hanging out at someone's house, so it's a quiet night for all of us to do our own thing. I'm not on many CT's right now mostly just because I'm choosy, but a designer always giving the CT kits on friday wouldn't stop me.
So what do you all think about the DST November blog train and the DSA blog train that are going on right now? There are a few designs I like, but a lot is CRAP. Which designers participating in these trains do you think have potential and which should just give it up? Discuss amongst yourselves...lol :)
Okay, I went over to both of the blog trains and I have to say, most of the stuff was somewhere between blah and crap. There were some nice items that I could see myself using, but overall the blah to bad outweighed the nice stuff. The DSA blog train had a lot more better submissions than the DST train. Over all the DST was a dud and I wasn't crazy about either of the color palettes used. I think the best on the DSA train was MScraps (store), Digi Preserves, Fran B Designs, The best on DST train was Susan Godfrey Designs, She Creates, Lisa Rosa Designs. Here is my summary of both trains...in my opinion (for what it's worth)
DST Blog Train List
Susan Godfrey Designs - Mini, nice--worth download Designs By Digiscrapations - template, crap She Creates - journal templates, nice--worth download Country Liv’s Graphics - template, crap Jellebelleke’s Designs - template, kind of blah, but not totally crap Brenda’s Scrap Design - mini, crap No Reimer Reason - journal cares, kind of blah, but not totally crap Pixel Scrapper - mini, nice--worth download Lisa Rosa Designs - mini, nice--worth download PattyB Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap AK Designs - Template, nice--worth download MagsGraphics - word art clusters & frame clusters, nice--worth download Becky’s Creations - mini, crap Snackpackgu’s Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap Karen Diamond Designs - template, kind of blah, but not totally crap Mariscrap - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap Pink’s Poetic Scraps - mini, crap WinksArt Graphics - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap Graphics By PokaDot - mini, crap The Brown Owl - nothing there that I could find
DSA Blog Train List
M&MDesigns - template, nice--worth the download Graphics By PokaDot - mini, crap SheCreates - template, nice--worth the download Karen Diamond Designs - template, nice--worth the downoad StarSongStudio - word art, kind of blah, but not total crap EMS Arts - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Sugar Moon Designs - mini, nice--worth the download 2CurlyHeadedMonsters Designs - mini, nice--worth the download Browneyedsusan Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Papierstudio Silke - paper pack, kind of blah, but not total crap Susan Godfrey Designs - mini, nice--worth the download A-Manda Creation - paper pack, nice--worth the download Lisa Rosa Designs - mini, nice--worth the download NutkinTailz Designs - mini, crap A Fish Design - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Keep in touch Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap AADesigns - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap PattyB Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Gingers Scraps N Pixels - mini, crap Jiovanna’s Creations - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Triple J Designs - mini, nice--worth the download Scrappin Serenity - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Gail Cook - mini, crap FranB Designs - mini, nice--worth the download Created by Jill - Journal pieces, nice--worth the download LJS Digital Designs - mini, nice--worth the download Tattered Princess Designs - mini, crap Seoul 2 Soul Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Digi Preserves - mini, nice--worth the download Kristmess - mini with alpha, crap DeepGirl Design (HATE this designer's name...lol!), don't like either of the freebies she has Mscraps (Store) - mini, nice--worth the download AK Designs - template, nice--worth the download Studio Digilicious - paper pack, nice--worth the download Little Feet Digital Designs - 2 minis, kind of blah, but not total crap Phlox Dragon Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Leaving a Legacy Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap Ponytails Designs - alpha, nice--worth the download Lori Imel - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Having seen the DST blog train being filled with low average to bad contributions, and seeing comments in here on how bad it is, I am seriously wondering how they can get better contributions. Store trains have their own designers (they have filtered them before joining the store, hopefully). The Parade has been more or less exclusive and by invitation (from what I gathered) and although the contributions are good, people have complained that it is not fair because not everyone would be allowed. It looks like it is either "non-exclusive and not good" or "exclusive and good". Any way there can be a non-exclusive and good train? What about the newest designers who might actually be good? Where would they go?
My idea of blog trains: I usually don't download them at all. If I ride the train, though, I'll only download the parts that appeal to me, and leave the rest there. Take it or leave it, it's not going to make or break my day. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. But like I said, I don't usually download them at all. This time I looked and left most. I downloaded some of the templates. That is about all. I wouldn't call the rest crap though. I'd call it stuff I wouldn't have a use for.
and she has a CT that doesn't mind - Yeah, well, the ct for SSD don't have a choice but to work for her. They have to as do others who work for her collaborators. Therefore, it's not just about her and her own ct, is it?
No Reimer Reason _ Just fyi - I had never heard of this designer until yesterday. She has a boatload of free templates on her blog and they're worth the dl'ing time and effort. Many of them are for multiple photos.
Thanks for the link to the snp hop. I probably will use more of the templates than any of the other things I picked up this weekend at the other hops. I've never shopped there--but will look around. I wonder how many shops are out there that nobody knows about. I think I saw a few of these designers when I collected some gingerscraps stuff yesterday. but most of them weren't on my radar at all.
Yeah, well, the ct for SSD don't have a choice but to work for her. They have to as do others who work for her collaborators. Therefore, it's not just about her and her own ct, is it? Nov 3, 2013, 12:45:00 AM ---------- Of course they have a choice. Are all the babes being held at gunpoint to stay on the CT? There isn't a single babe that couldn't be replaced. If you don't like it, leave.
I'm a designer and giving kits to your Ct and a site CT less than 12 hours before a kit releases is rude and disrespectful and I would never do that. Just my opinion, but I think you should be more respectful of other people's time if you want them to showcase your product in the best way possible and help your business. I always feel bad if I hand my products off to CTM's any later than Sunday for a Friday release.
96, you're right to think about helping your business and respecting the CT's time. If your CTMs aren't showing off your designs to the best of their abilities (because you give them the products with no time to scrap), then your business could suffer. Designers need to think more as business owners than as designers/artists/"SAHM with a hobby that hopefully makes money". You need time to create the designs; the CT needs time to create LOs. The better the LOs (and the more "better" LOs they give you), the more likely the product is to sell. That's why I give product to the CT at least a week before it's released.
Of course they have a choice. Are all the babes being held at gunpoint to stay on the CT? There isn't a single babe that couldn't be replaced. If you don't like it, leave. -- I didn't say they didn't have a choice, I said they were affected and it wasn't just about KCB and her own ct. You're so hellbent on being hostile, you don't read and comprehend very well. Calm down. If you don't like it here, leave.
98. I hate all the Christmas stuff out now - even from designers I like, I'm not buying it now (Scrapyrus is one). The Nov Daily Digi Files kit was full of Christmas. I didn't like them because they were not only Christmas, but they were also ugly. I don't like Christmas in November.
97-Most CTM I know are on several teams. If all the designers that one of these CTMs have to design for wait until the last minute to give them the kits, then you are right, the layouts are going to show that they were thrown together just to get it done. The more time a ctm has with the kit, the better. Sometimes the designers I work with even get a 2nd or 3rd page because I've had extra time to use it. I don't usually do extra pages for the designers that don't get the kits out to us in a timely manner. There just isn't time to do that.
People who do Christmas cards like to buy Christmas kits sooner. It's really hard to get in the mood to do them, though.
I guess I'm one of those horrible designers who pushes deadlines pretty hard. I wouldn't dream of demanding my team produced a layout before the kit released, though. And candidly, when I get one done a week early, they don't work with it til the end of the week, anyway. Perhaps we are all a good match for each other. The truth is, no one stays with a designer if it isn't working for them. So judging from the outside really isn't that relevant, IMO.
According this post on the Pinterest blog, "pin it to win it" contests are unacceptable. Judging by what I saw last weekend, designers and stores do not care.
Judging by the way stores and designers do contests in general, they don't care. I haven't seen one yet that follows US law (if they're US stores or designers) regarding giveaways, contests, promotions, etc. Some stores have been called out on this blog in the past, but nothing ever changes. They'll bitch if you pirate (not that I'm condoning it), but they'll break other laws and not care. No law against being a hypocrite.
There's a pretty big difference between stealing a product (sharing it with others illegally, piracy, whatever you want to call it) and running a contest improperly. In one instance you're actually stealing something, and in another you're failing to fill out some paperwork or whatever. They both might be wrong, but I definitely view stealing as a far greater offense.
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...?
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I am just catching up and found this post. It's laughable that someone thought Deepgirl was the new designer at SSD! Not only because I don't see why they would ever take her designs, but more because that is the girl from Nipplegate, isn't it?
106 said "Perhaps we are all a good match for each other." ^^^That's what matters. If y'all are procrastinators (I don't mean this rudely, I just mean that you work well on a deadline), then that's perfect for you and your team. I just hope that, when you make a CT call ad, you are completely honest about your last-minute release of kits to your CT.
I can't stand when a designer says in her ad "Kits given with at least a week's time before release! LOs due Weds." and then everything is given last minute. I had a designer like that. In the 6 months I CTed for her, she never--NEVER--gave us something with more than 2 day's notice. Sometimes she gave us stuff on the day of its release and would beg for LOs. That's totally fine for her (if she likes to procrastinate), but that it isn't what was promised to her team. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I have young kids at home. I don't have an hour or two to put a LO together during the day. And her begging for LOs (including passive-aggressive, veiled comments about how we're "not making enough LOs" for her) just got on my nerves. We can't make LOs with a kit until that kit is given to us. And we can't give you a LO Wednesday night for Friday's release if you don't give us the kit until Friday afternoon. I have not yet figured out how to break the laws of Space and Time. When I get my TARDIS, then I'll scrap for her again.
Just a general question - does anyone shop at scrapgirls? I've been digiscrapping for a long time, and just discovered them and found a few things from a couple of designers that I really like alot. I've never noticed any of their designers ever participating in the Digifiles, Scrapstacks, DST monthly kits either. Are they kind of like DSP where they just kind of stick to themselves? Not that anyone has to participate in the above mentioned programs, but I have found alot of new to me designers by buying the digifiles, or DST annual kits.
re: scrapgirls - they release a couple freebies every week - usually small elements or individual pieces of paper. They seem to have a fairly loyal customer base.
I think SSD is really having some issues financially. They're doing a LOT more sales than ever before, which is usually a sign of a sinking ship. "If people won't pay full price for our designs, maybe they'll buy if we discount the crap out of them..."
They first reduced the number of points needed for challenges calling it a "summer special." It's November, and they still haven't set the points required back to normal.
GGG (after not having one in ages), then that one-day-only Halloween sale, followed by the biggest sale season of the year (DSD, black friday, etc all piled up there together)... it's like Robin is basically begging people to shop there.
Gee, Robin, maybe people would actually shop there if your designers would bother to produce original stuff. However, after buying 3 kits from different designers with the same damn owl and seeing it appear in several others, I'm kind of over shopping there...
It seems like Flergs is kind of them scraping the bottom of the barrel hoping to find a dime... good luck there.
I stopped shopping at SSD after I saw who they chose for Babes. Yet again choosing their friends over scrappers who inspire me to BUY PRODUCTS.
I thought their point system was way to high to begin with.
I don't think all the sales are a sign of a sinking ship, though. All stores have the sales mentioned above in one way or another. Even TLP does a 50% off day once a week. If SSD is hurting, maybe they're all hurting.
I did see a kit released over DSD from Ju and Jenn Barette that was $9.99 and nothing special in size. On sale it was $6.99. That's one way to have a sale and still get full price for things. Unfortunately, I'm not that stupid.
I did see a kit released over DSD from Ju and Jenn Barette that was $9.99 and nothing special in size. On sale it was $6.99. That's one way to have a sale and still get full price for things. Unfortunately, I'm not that stupid.
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I saw that same kit, too, and liked it. Then I saw the price, laughed, and shopped elsewhere.
Have to agree about SSD. I didn't spend a dime there this year, and I think last year they got about $75 from me during dsd. Strangely enough, I spent about $80 or so at SBG this time around.
^ ITA with this. I used to shop SSD religiously during DSD and other big sales. This time I didn't spend a dime there either and took all of my money to Pixels & CO and TLP instead and am very pleased with my purchases.
I was planning to shop SSD but I don't consider 30% off much of an enticing sale. If they are hurting they need to go to 40% for me to even consider purchasing. Hit 50% off and it's a done deal (I did buy during the Halloween sale). I don't mind the progressive sale things either (like what P&Co & SO did with higher dollar amount levels getting bigger % off). I couldn't find the time during the weekend to sit & find what I wanted so I missed P&Co's sale. They might consider adding Monday to their sale next time. They would have gotten my money for sure.
I think TLP 50% sale every week stands out from other big % sales. They seem to actually promote their older products with this sale, not just lowering the price to get sales. I think their team even makes new layouts with the older products. I think they run thoughtful promotions and they do the BYOC very successfully. I see other stores try to do BYOC and it just doesn't seem to work as well as it does at TLP.
Yeah, that kit that was $6.99 on sale just about floored me. But all of SSD's prices have been creeping up. Maybe the frequent sales are just a way to get people to buy thinking they're getting a deal, when those same prices last year were "standard, not-on-sale" prices. Total crap, imo. I'd rather shop elsewhere.
I hadn't shopped at SSD in a long time, and went back and saw the prices one Saturday (saw something I liked in the newsletter), and decided I was done. If their new Saturday prices are the old "regular" prices, I'm not willing to pay it. Maybe I'll go back during a GGG or 50% off sale, but even then, doubt it.
It's not that I feel designers aren't supposed to charge for their time or anything-- as a designer, I get it. We're underpaid. But maybe try shaking up your CU just a bit. I use CU, but not the same recolored piece and pattern in half a dozen kits. Put a little more original effort into it, and then the higher prices will seem worth it.
I had a ton of things on my wishlist from SSD, but I kind of got discouraged at the pricing as well and just decided to completely bypass them. I however spend about $150 in total with goodies from TLP, Pixels and SBG. Oh and a little from SO too. Overall very happy with my purchases and really didn't miss not getting anything from SSD this time around. I too noticed that the prices have been steadily increasing, and basically even with 30% off it's still almost the regular price of kits elsewhere. I am peeved that I forgot to shop @ Peppermint Creative before I was done! :(
Just thought I'd share something incredible that happened to me during DSD. I accidentally put a kit for $0. When this happened in my old store, a bunch of people took advantage of it and "bought" it. I know it's my own mistake so I can't blame anyone, but this time, a customer notified me in an e-mail. Because of her, I was able to reset the price without anyone downloading it. I offered her a kit of her choice as a thank-you, but she denied it and said anyone would do the same. Well, no, not everyone would do it. The most incredible part? Today, I got an invoice saying she bought the kit, the one that was marked down to $0.
Reading this blog so regularly, sometimes I forget there are truly great people in this community, and they keep me doing what I do. :)
I keep reading about SSD prices creeping up over the last few years (they have but so have most of the better stores). After reading about how SSD was so expensive and people were shopping at TLP (30% off) and P&Co (35% plus off) for DSD instead, I was curious and compared prices: P&Co kits $6-$8; SBG kits $6.50- $9, TLP kits $5 - $9.50; SSD $7-$9. They seem to be in the same ball park, and their kits seem to be of similar quality, so what is wrong with SSD compared to the other stores? Just curious.
^^^^^ Like in almost all the designers using the same CU - I thought I saw some of the same things used in different kits- again and again, but wasn't sure? Do other designers use the same CU or just them?
A lot of designers use the same CU. For example, the satin flowers by Megan Turnidge because they were sold at $1 last Farmer's Market. I'm tired of seeing those flowers but I have them myself. The problem with SSD kits is that they are very similar looking, down to the color palettes. I bought several kits there during iNSD, but couldn't find anything new to want this time. I did buy from the Lilypad, which I'm appreciating more... they have more hand-crafted kits and I'm starting to mix elements on my LOs, not just those from the same kit.
139, people on here have mentioned before that P&Co prices are too high. I've never actually purchased anything at P&Co. I look and look and try to find something I find worth the price, but I can't. And I personally think SBG is too high as well, but that might be more to do with the fact that most of their designers don't fit my scrapping style (so I'm not willing to pay a premium price for a kit I probably won't ever use).
And IDK, but SSD just seems high to me. Gotta Pixel got my business for DSD, and I hadn't shopped there in ages...but I got some kits at half off. Who can pass up a $2.50 kit? (One was the exact theme I needed--but I knew I'd never use the kit for another LO, so why spend like $10 on a collab at SSD?) Hell, some of GP's kits at regular price were the same price as SSD kits on sale. But again, GP isn't really my style anymore. I'm more of a TLP style (more unique/handmade graphics).
Do other designers use the same CU or just them? ------- I know that some of the TLP designers do because they were doing it when they were at ScrapArtist. Sure, they may changed since then but I doubt it, not those designers.
Re, The TLP designers - the ones that are unique, like Jacque Larsen and Kate Hadfield - I find I can't really use most of their stuff - the rest, they aren't that unique. What are people seeing that I'm not?
I am 145- I was thinking about those two plus CD. Kaye W. used to have some unique felt, etc., but her stuff looks like everybody else's now. Michelle G. has handpainted papers (I think) and Kim J. has several hand crafted things, but once I looked through the store, I realized that a lot of their stuff looks like everybody else's, and the rest of the designers seem to be similar to those at other stores.
I don't understand. How come WM Squared's bundles are "on sale" (it doesn't seem like a value to me since all I want is the kit), but her new kit Philly is NOT included in the 20% off new-release sale? http://scraporchard.com/market/great-escape-philly-digital-scrapbook.html
The templates are on sale. http://scraporchard.com/market/State-Templates-pennsylvania-digital-scrapbook.html
Am I missing something? I hate buying an $8 "add on" as she calls those city/state kits. But I'd love to get the Philly one to scrap my hometown...during the new release sale. But now I'll just wait until April, when SO has its next store-wide sale (according to their DSD ad).
^^ #149: Maybe she forgot to add the New Release category to her product when loading it up into the store. If so, then it won't be automatically discounted with the others. You should email/message her about it.
139 - It may also have something to do with how much the sales discounted the prices as well. I purchased stuff at SBG for 40% and 50% off so that made a big difference. I remember last year SSD did have a storewide 40% off sale, I thought it was for DSD but it might have been for Black Friday. If they can discount at least 40%, that might entice me to spend.
oh - to add, someone above mentioned SSD's repeating use of color palettes, similar CU, etc. and that is something that I try to avoid also. For the NSD sale in May I bought 4 kits, and 3 of them from different designers actually had many exact same pieces of CU in them so I was kind of annoyed.
150, that's true. I don't follow her--I just saw the kit. I'd be super bummed if that's something she normally does. I checked out her store, and her St. Louis kit isn't marked down this week either, even though it's a new release. And its bundle and template pack are both on sale. I guess it could be a glitch.
It's not like it's thousands of dollars difference in price, but it seems shady to me--like she's trying to entice people to buy the bundle (because it's "on sale"). Unfortunately, I just want the kit. I'm sure other people will want the bundle, but I don't. I don't need the extras, which I can either make myself or I don't like. Plus, that bundle is a high price IMO. (But again, I don't want any of the extras, so I'm biased against it lol.)
Regarding WM[squared]'s Great Escape releases: A quick search on her blog reveals that neither the Philly kit or the St. Louis kit are new. The Philly kit was orginally released in July 2012 (http://www.wmsquared-designs.com/2012/07/26/destination-philly-a-boys-kit/) and the St. Louis kit was in June 2013 (http://www.wmsquared-designs.com/2013/06/27/great-escape-st-louis-more/).
The only new product in the bundles is the templates. She's slowly, but surely, adding a set of state/country templates for each of the Great Escape kits she's released. When those templates are released, both the templates and the bundle are considered new products. The kit, word art bits and alpha are not considered new and that is why they do not get included in Fresh Fruit or qualify for the new release discount.
154, thanks for the info! Like I said, I don't follow her, so I didn't know. I wish I had seen the kit when it was released. Oh well. It is full of themed elements (not a bunch of filler) so I might just bite the bullet and buy it.
Just a heads up, SO usually does a Christmas advent type sale with a different designer 50% each new day. If they do it this year too you might be able to grab it at half off.
Do any of you use stick images? I see one scrappers layouts all around, and it always has general pictures, no journaling, no personal items, no dates, nothing that ties her to the image. (I understand she can add that later, but just get the feeling she doesn't). I know its a creative outlet, but I don't think I'd use stock images. I'd rather go photoless.
I wouldn't have offered it for sale, either. Like that's ever worked out in the past... I hope the decent designers find new homes and the shit ones just retire.
I wish some of the better designers at SM would go somewhere besides SO, SSD, or SBG. So sick of them. If you are a designer from SM, take a chance on TLP, PBP, GS, or somewhere else. Please.
A lot of the SM designers seem comparable to a lot of the stuff I see at SO and TDC - also GS. I think Amber (stolen moments) and Tracey (Clever Monkey) are the two stand outs of that bunch - but not sure where they would fit best. I'd love to see them at TLP, SSD, or P&co
How many more designers can some of these stores hold? There's been some shuffling around lately and TDC & SBG just had calls recently. 26 designers at SO, 28 at TLP, 26 at SSD, 32 at SBG, 19 at P&Co and 17 at TDC (so probably some room in those two). Some of the designers at SM are good enough that I'm sure they can have their pick, but most of those stores can only have room for 1 or 2 at most. This will be interesting. With all the stores closing lately, there are starting to be too many designers for the top stores, so either we're going to see some new stores opening or some other stores are going to get some better designers. It's going to be tougher to make it in this industry if things continue on this path.
From what I know: TLP = exclusive GS = not exclusive PBP = not exclusive SBB = not exclusive P&CO = I don't know SBG = exclusive SSD = exclusive TDC = not exclusive Those might have changed since the last time I looked at the requirements/calls.
I really liked the free kit Pixels & Co gave away on Dsd but I hate the blog hopping and gathering letters for the code. I'd prefer to download the links on each blog. Anyway.. I find Pixels & Co very expensive. They remind me of SSD a few years back..they have to get off their high horse. I also like the idea of a FWP kit but I lose track of it. There's a new one every Wednsesday?? I think... I follow their facebook page and so many others and I still can't keep track of the new FWP kit every week. The clue is to make things easy for customers, not hard. I really like Karla Dudley's designs but I have to wait for sales. It would have been nice to extend their sale to Monday on DSD.
Although I purchased a ton of stuff on DSD mainly from TLP, SSD, Peppermint Creative, SO, I can't wait for Black Friday sales.. I was disapointed with Brit-designs 30% and all the 30% sales in most shops. I hope they go higher on Black Friday. What happened to Farmer's Market at SO? It's not happeneing again?
I can't see any of them being a good fit for TLP. I'd think most of them would be good for TDC and GS. Maybe Amber will end up at SSD. I still think SO is on it's way out and I bet a lot of them end up there. Although, I can't see how taking on designers from a closing store helps anyone. If they couldn't make enough to keep their store open, what value do they add to your store?
oh God no, not PBP. I HATE that store. GS has a nice community. Better designers would be a huge boost to that store.
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Hi T. I know for a fact what a few designers there are making and I wouldn't be so quick to judge. Same with P&Co. There may be something to say for staying out of the limelight and drama. Some of these less popular stores might host some well-kept secrets. I've found a few gems at each of them so it's no different than any other top-tier store. Not all of them are the bomb either.
From what I know: TLP = exclusive GS = not exclusive PBP = not exclusive SBB = not exclusive P&CO = I don't know SBG = exclusive SSD = exclusive TDC = not exclusive Those might have changed since the last time I looked at the requirements/calls.
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You must not pay close attention then because didn't TDC just have a call? I know that they're exclusive, so your info is wrong.
Some of the designers at SM are good enough that I'm sure they can have their pick, but most of those stores can only have room for 1 or 2 at most. This will be interesting. -----------------
I couldn't agree less. I think there aren't very many designers left at SM who can choose anything. I think we'll see a lot of retirements. I would be very surprised if we see stores like TLP, P&CO and SSD take any of these designers in. IMO they're going to have to settle for second-tier shops because they were lucky to be at SM in the first place - a shop that wouldn't have looked at any of them about 2 years ago.
#182, the "I hate PBP" post was not made by "T" - but it figures that people like you would assume that they know who is responsible for an anonymous blog post.
185 - I said some - Most of them will probably have a hard time. Stolen Moments, Kim B, Litabells, Clever Monkey, and possibly Zoliofrope, I would say could go to top stores. Apparently Cluster Queen is, though I wouldn't have picked that. Space in stores is limited, I think we may see TDC take a few since they seem to have some room to spare despite the call. We might see some go to GS or Oscraps?
IMO, I don't see Clever Monkey going to a top store. I think her kits are just so-so and the previews are atrocious. Her CU products are good though so that works in her favor.
And Stolen Moments stuff looks good but the quality isn't always the greatest. Textures don't go all the way to the edges, prints/patterns are pixellated, lines don't match up, resolution isn't 300dpi, etc.
re: using stock images..... perhaps the people who use stock images online are only doing so for privacy reasons. (ie. don't want real photos of their kids on the internet). Maybe they replace the stock photos with real photos in their real-life albums.
For all those stores welcoming so many "new" designers, I am wondering if it is overall helping them by adding quality stuff (as I guess they are thinking they are quality designers) or is it hindering it by watering down the real quality designers in a larger pool of stuff. As a customer, what do you think?
192. I am not sure I really understand your question. It seems as though you are being vague and not saying what you really intend to say. Are the new people quality or not? It seems to me you are saying they are perceived as quality but really suck when it comes down to it. I am not sure if I am reading this right but I sense that you are a designer at a store that is accepting new people and you are concerned that the new people's quality is not as good as your own and want to know what customers think? Is that where you are coming from on this?
I am trying to figure out whose interests you are concerned about here.
194 - I am just a customer, but I see that some stores are getting huge when they add those "new" designers who are left homeless after their store closes. The same thing happened in the last couple of years with so many "fairly well known" stores closed and designers had to find other places. I see that stores that might have had 12-15 designers in the past, are now having 20-30. They are becoming bigger and bigger, but is it a good thing? I remember comments from before, when people complained that this or that store was getting so big. Is it still as manageable by the owners? Will they be able to give as good service to their designers (like marketing, and such) to then offer as good stuff to the customers? How about quality control with twice as many designers (and maybe twice as many products)? Will some designers become "lazy" since they might take advantage of the traffic others will bring to the store?
I am just not sure, myself, if I will like to go shop in a store that gets bigger and bigger. More stuff I might like, but maybe too much work to go through even more stuff that is not my style, or that don't interest me.
And no, I am not a designer in one of those stores, although if I were, I guess I might wonder that too, but I am thinking as a customer right now. But maybe other designers might also have an opinion from the other side of the fence.
194. As a customer I don't really care how many designers a store has. I don't feel as though I have to sift through anything because I mostly just click on the individual stores of my favorite designers to see what is new from them. If I like the new designer I may shop from them. If I don't like them I just add them to the list of those I don't bother to look at each week. Nothing changes for me.
As a customer I don't really care how many designers a store has. __ I agree with this. The more the merrier I say. If quality, etc. suffers, then I go elsewhere. I do wonder where these designers who love what they do, have a customer base and are left "shopless" due to no fault of their own, are supposed to go if not another shop? Should they just hang it up and do something else because customers don't want to sift through more stuff in the stores?
Since I have chosen not to shop at certain specific top tier stores, I hope my favorite designers don't end up there because they will lose my business. I don't want to punish them, but I certainly don't want to give my money to some specific store owners. Hopefully, they will either have another store I'll be able to shop.
Traci Reed's attempt to try to be Ali Edwards. It looks like she had her kids write these. SMH. Will people actually buy this??? http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=26531&cat=629&page=1
Not trying to be secretive. I have personal reasons, and they might not be shared by others. I won't shop at SBG and when some of my favorite designers landed there, they lost my business. Period. I have seen attitudes that I don't agree with and I just "vote with my wallet".
988 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 401 – 600 of 988 Newer› Newest»I was impressed with the PCO collab Piccadilly. I also stayed around the store and picked up a few things and added a few to my wish list. Their designers really fit my style.
^^^^^ yeah, in case we missed your comment from the previouse page...
The Digi Scrap Parade is up!
SSD designers collabing with "someone special"? May as well just confirm it's Flergs...
SSD designers collabing with "someone special"? May as well just confirm it's Flergs...
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It's definitely Flergs because Deep Girl inadvertently used her name on SSD Sneak Peeks.
It's definitely Flergs because Deep Girl inadvertently used her name on SSD Sneak Peeks.
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Yep. Gone now, but you can see that it was edited out.
Has anyone bought CU from Studio Emka and how's her quality? I want to buy her feathers but the 100% up-close doesn't look that great. I wonder if it is just the preview.
#8
I bought some lace from her , and it is not consistent in quality, some a great , some are really having junky edge... I have the feeling that she stretched out some of them
Just finished D/L the Digi Parade. Im very happy with almost all of it . Didn't bother with a few, mostly Digi Chicks designers. Have never liked their stuff.
WTF was with Clever Monkeys contribution, a bunch of scribbles? Almost all the designers put in some real effort , which is much appreciated.
Does anyone have or come across One Story Down's Facebook hop preview? I'm not familiar with the store and want to check out the hop, but didn't find any previews.
And since everybody was bitching about SO not being in the train, SSD only had 3 designers this go round.
And I salute SBG, SSD, TLP and others that don't regularly have open calls and most of their designers have been invited.
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Are you high??? SBG just had a giant call not even 6 months ago and Maya was literally begging designers from other shops to join hers. Times have changed. Evidenced by Flergs leaving too.
12 - I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does.
I loved the DSP blog train EXCEPT for Crystal Livesay's part. She needs to find a service to use other than Tradable Bits. I will not give them access to my account and she's lost me as a customer too.
^^^
I second that. Also not a fan of Peppermint Creative and having to sign up for her newsletter to get the kit.
Any designer here ever get a request from a customer for free stuff due to them not having money to shop the big sales? I got one from a customer and I don't know what I should do.
#17, YES! Point them to all the freebies around digi-land this weekend, and leave it at that. I can't believe people would do that. It's so rude, imo.
^^^^ I totally agree!
14-That is why I don't CT for any of them.
Besides that, I don't like the store.
Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
I loved the DSP blog train EXCEPT for Crystal Livesay's part. She needs to find a service to use other than Tradable Bits. I will not give them access to my account and she's lost me as a customer too.
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Maybe she reads here because I just downloaded her part and no Tradeable Bits at all and I am glad. I love her templates!
Any designer here ever get a request from a customer for free stuff due to them not having money to shop the big sales? I got one from a customer and I don't know what I should do.
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I'm not a designer but I am flabbergasted that anyone would do this! Let me get this straight. The customer is asking you to give her stuff, that other people pay for, free?
Also not a fan of Peppermint Creative and having to sign up for her newsletter to get the kit.
_
Ditto this.
I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does.
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I would NEVER ct there. It would drive me nuts! KCB and Libby Pritchett are the absolute WORST at this. They're both nice ladies but they need to seriously get their shit together.
# 22 - I'm not the one who brought it up, but I am also a designer who was emailed for free kits today too. Just out of curiousity, I checked to see if this person was a previous customer, and I can't even find a record of them ever making a purchase from me. Why would I give them free kits? Jeez, the nerve of some people. Is this happening to anyone else? I'm not going to bother to respond.
I know some people don't have a lot of money which is why I like to give out freebies and $$$ off coupons on my facebook page. But to blatantly ask for free kits? That is kind of low.
You can't fault them for trying. You also can't fault me for saying "fuck off" when they ask me to give away product for free for no good reason at all.
I was really pleased with the SBB Facebook Hop. Didn't like the Gingerscrap hop colors. Annoyed at all of the 4shared, mediafire etc. on the MScraps Hop. I liked the SO train and almost all parts of the DSP were really well done. What hops have I missed?
Scrap Takeout has one:
http://scraptakeout.com/forum/showthread.php?4298-DSD-Happenings!-Get-all-the-info-here-♥
And I like SNP's template hop:
https://www.facebook.com/ScrapsNPiecesStore
14-That is why I don't CT for any of them.
Besides that, I don't like the store.
Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
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I am a CT on several teams there and have been for several years. I have never had problems uploading at the standard 600x600 size. I know that one of the girls that used to be a CT member was having this issue, but it' wasn't a size issue. For some reason, the file behaved as though it was never "saved for web" in the first place. Perhaps you aren't saving them correctly, or you need to check your save settings. I 14-That is why I don't CT for any of them.
Besides that, I don't like the store.
Speaking of stores and galleries. I don't like the gallery at SO as so many have mentioned. Another gallery I don't like is Pickleberry pop. I resize for web, but it is never small enough for that gallery. I get frustrated. If I didn't ct for couple of the designers there, I'd boycott that gallery too. Boo.
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I am a CT on several teams there and have been for several years. I have never had problems uploading at the standard 600x600 size. I know that one of the girls that used to be a CT member was having this issue, but it' wasn't a size issue. For some reason, the file behaved as though it was never "saved for web" in the first place. Perhaps you aren't saving them correctly, or you need to check your save settings. I doubt that one person can have a problem and others don't.doubt that one person can have a problem and others don't.
lol pardon the typing stutter. not sure what happened there.
I feel like there are less chats and events this year than previously. Am I just missing them?
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...?
That's an unfortunate design name.
32, where are you getting DeepGirl joining SSD? Pretty sure the general consensus is that Flergs is the one heading to SSD.
She needs to find a service to use other than Tradable Bits. I will not give them access to my account
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Could you explain why you don't like Tradable Bits please. Is it unsafe to use, or another reason? Thanks.
Deep Girl and Sugarbutt need to collab.
I am always amazed to see some names that designers pick.
WTF. Scrap Orchard's DSD bingo card is only downloadable through 4shared? no thanks. I don't need any viruses because you can't figure out how to host that on your own server.
Besides Sugar Hill Co, where do you shop CU? Anyone to recommend? I have a lot of Chelle's stuff as well.
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...?
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Deep Girl is not joining SSD. She did, however, out Flergs as the one who is early this morning when she did her sneak peek for Nicole. Libby came in fairly soon after and edited Flergs' name out of the post.
I am always amazed to see some names that designers pick.
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No kidding. Whimpychompers is one that comes to mind.
I know some people don't have a lot of money which is why I like to give out freebies and $$$ off coupons on my facebook page. But to blatantly ask for free kits? That is kind of low.
_
If they don't have enough money to buy kits there is ample, quality free stuff all over the internet. It takes some effort to look for it and go to different places to get it but, geez, asking for charity to scrapbook? Just when ya think you've heard it all.
Could you explain why you don't like Tradable Bits please. Is it unsafe to use, or another reason? Thanks.
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I have no idea if it's safe and I don't want to find out. I don't want to give information to a third party I don't know just so I can download a template or anything else for that matter.
I feel like there are less chats and events this year than previously. Am I just missing them?
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Someone says this every year. There is all kinds of stuff going on at almost every store. What kind of events did you have in mind?
I have no idea if it's safe and I don't want to find out. I don't want to give information to a third party I don't know just so I can download a template or anything else for that matter.
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me too
So disappointed with DST's November kit... DST used to have quality stuff for their gold members, but now they're just blah. ScrapStacks too... none of the things in the pack that I'd buy :(
Studio Flergs is on the list of designers. No products in the store though
http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=43
If she's in a new store that quickly, something had to have happened to make her leave SBG. Who's got the dirt?
for as many kits as she put out the last year, I'd say she left a long time ago.
I CT for a few SSD designers and my guess is that because they don't even design their damn kits until Thursday or Friday each week, they probably just ran out of time. Almost every designer at SSD is the same way. I CT for other people at other stores too and nobody else hands things to their CT 24 hours before the product is released the way SSD does.
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I would NEVER ct there. It would drive me nuts! KCB and Libby Pritchett are the absolute WORST at this. They're both nice ladies but they need to seriously get their shit together.
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Further proof that KCB reads here on the blog, because this just showed up on her personal FB page last night:
"On weekends like DSD, NSD, Black Friday etc I'm always so so thankful for all of those on my creative team, fellow designer creative teams and the sugarbabes for the amount of work they put in to helping out the digital scrapbook designers. The time they give up for us helping to get our designs shown to the degree they are would be mostly impossible if it wasn't for them. I realize that most people enjoy it and that it is getting your memories down and helping to afford your hobby but it really can be time consuming and I just want you to know that I appreciate it :) "
a.k.a. I know I suck and give you products 4-6 hours before my release goes live, and I know I'm getting bashed about it on the smack blog, so let me offer a sweet sentiment and hope that it smooths things over so that you'll keep being my bitch next week again
so that you'll keep being my bitch
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Really?
I think one of the reasons that DSD seems to have less hype is that many stores and designers have settled into a DSD routine over the last couple years. There aren't as many surprises.
SSD didn't even make a DSD forum for challenges, giveaways, contests or anything. Talk about lame.
How on earth is Flergs going to keep up with SSD's weekly release schedule? Plus they don't seem to allow that 20pc collection format that she always did. It's a strange move all around. I know she can just re-release old product for a while, but then what?
How on earth is Flergs going to keep up with SSD's weekly release schedule?
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Not all their designers release weekly. In fact, most don't.
The fact SSD took an Ok designer like Flergs who hasn't released much at all in over a year shows their desperation. Looks like sales are down at SSD and they're hoping to gain her customers.
so that you'll keep being my bitch
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I'd tell her to stuff her free designs. Sounds like her head has outgrown her talent. Her work is getting to be mighty repetitious and her attitude sucks. How about she get her act together for once and get her kits to people so they have a decent amount of time to create with them? They have families, jobs and other things to do then wait for her to finally get them what they need so they can meet her deadline. I'd be furious if she referred to me as one of her "bitches" and would have no problem telling her so.
The fact SSD took an Ok designer like Flergs who hasn't released much at all in over a year shows their desperation. Looks like sales are down at SSD and they're hoping to gain her customers.
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In your opinion she's an "okay" designer. Others may see it differently. Just because SSD gained a new designer does not mean their sales are down. That's quite a leap to make, and, even with your logic makes no sense. If Flergs is an okay designer then she probably doesn't have that many customers, right?
ScrapStacks too... none of the things in the pack that I'd buy :(
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YES! The last two months have especially been AWFUL! I used to buy from them every month but not now. I absolutely hate that thing by Dawn Inskip.
#59 what was bad about last month's ScrapStacks? I missed last month and off to look at this months.
I think the "I know I suck ... keep being my bitch" was #50's interpretation of KCB's facebook post, not what KCB actually posted.
SSD's Scrapathon has a nice prize, but too bad a few CTM's can't read and their pages don't count.
I've CTd for many designers. Some have their stuff ready a week early, some are last minute. But the last minute ones never ever expected us to drop everything and have a page done in an hour so they'd have it for release. They all seemed to realize they were last minute, and just said to work with it when we got a chance, even if that was 2 days later. Makes no difference to me if I scrap before or after the kit is released, so it doesn't bother me when they post it. If they wanted layouts before it went live, they'd post it sooner.
ITA with 63. All the designers (past and present) whom I've CTed for have never expected a LO RightThisFreakingMinute if they gave us stuff late. If they can't get their shit together and give the CTMs at least 2 days' time, then why should their CT have to scramble to make a LO?
I thought some stores had a cut-off time for new releases? Like, if you don't have your product in the shop by Weds. at 11pm EST, then it won't be released that Friday.
#59 what was bad about last month's ScrapStacks? I missed last month and off to look at this months.
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They had some really awful Tangie Baxter thing (the colors were atrocious) and some hybrid organizer box thing from Wendy B (I think). If I want an organizer, I'll buy one, not make one that will last two seconds.
It's like Scrap Stacks started out really well and now it's just not worth the five bucks.
How come Laura is no longer a sugar babe?
SSD didn't even make a DSD forum for challenges, giveaways, contests or anything. Talk about lame.
_
It is lame. Robin's answer to the question of why is that they decided to go low key. Well, I hope that works out for them. It's hard to go low key and keep your customers happy at the same time. The attitude from her and the designers who chimed in was like it was just too much trouble. Well, these people are in business and they're supposed to be working, right?
How come Laura is no longer a sugar babe?
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Yeah, I just noticed she's not one anymore.
But the last minute ones never ever expected us to drop everything and have a page done in an hour so they'd have it for release.
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Maybe not, but, regardless, there's an implied need to rush, especially when SSD has their sneak peeks. Can't really have a sneak peek after the kit has been revealed so while the designer may not SAY a rush to scrap is required, it is implied because of the deadline.
On weekends like DSD, NSD, Black Friday etc I'm always so so thankful for all of those on my creative team, fellow designer creative teams and the sugarbabes for the amount of work they put in to helping out the digital scrapbook designers.
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This doesn't just occur with her on these "busy" weekends. It's a regular practice of hers. I do believe she thinks because she's a popular designer that she can get away with it, and she does. However, like someone else said, her work is getting boring and stale. One kit looks like another and one of the reasons for that is she uses some of the same elements from kit to kit (as does Ju Kneipp and Studio Basic).
It is lame. Robin's answer to the question of why is that they decided to go low key. Well, I hope that works out for them. It's hard to go low key and keep your customers happy at the same time. The attitude from her and the designers who chimed in was like it was just too much trouble. Well, these people are in business and they're supposed to be working, right?
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Agree with this 100%.
a few CTM's can't read and their pages don't count
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a few of them can't scrap either!
SO's "OH SNAP" is great.
Anonymous said... 67
How come Laura is no longer a sugar babe?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pretty sure she and heathergw both stepped down like a month or so ago from being babes.
so while the designer may not SAY a rush to scrap is required, it is implied because of the deadline.
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With KCB it is not even implied. I am positive her last call stipulated that you had to be available on Friday night to scrap for her before she released kits. It's the reason I didn't bother applying. The problem with her is that she won't ever change because people DO apply to her team, and so she can continue that practice.
both SO's hop and DSA's are named Oh Snap. gee whiz, how fun.
Some people don't get their panties in a wad about scrapping last minute, either. If working last minute works for her and she has a CT that doesn't mind, why should she change? Because some tool on a trash blog says she should?
I work full time and don't have time to scrap m-th, so scrapping fridays is pretty normal for me. My kids are usually off with friends at whatever high school sport is playing on friday nights or hanging out at someone's house, so it's a quiet night for all of us to do our own thing. I'm not on many CT's right now mostly just because I'm choosy, but a designer always giving the CT kits on friday wouldn't stop me.
So what do you all think about the DST November blog train and the DSA blog train that are going on right now? There are a few designs I like, but a lot is CRAP. Which designers participating in these trains do you think have potential and which should just give it up? Discuss amongst yourselves...lol :)
After seeing the colors, I didn't waste my time with either one.
Okay, I went over to both of the blog trains and I have to say, most of the stuff was somewhere between blah and crap. There were some nice items that I could see myself using, but overall the blah to bad outweighed the nice stuff. The DSA blog train had a lot more better submissions than the DST train. Over all the DST was a dud and I wasn't crazy about either of the color palettes used. I think the best on the DSA train was MScraps (store), Digi Preserves, Fran B Designs, The best on DST train was Susan Godfrey Designs, She Creates, Lisa Rosa Designs. Here is my summary of both trains...in my opinion (for what it's worth)
DST Blog Train List
Susan Godfrey Designs - Mini, nice--worth download
Designs By Digiscrapations - template, crap
She Creates - journal templates, nice--worth download
Country Liv’s Graphics - template, crap
Jellebelleke’s Designs - template, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Brenda’s Scrap Design - mini, crap
No Reimer Reason - journal cares, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Pixel Scrapper - mini, nice--worth download
Lisa Rosa Designs - mini, nice--worth download
PattyB Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap
AK Designs - Template, nice--worth download
MagsGraphics - word art clusters & frame clusters, nice--worth download
Becky’s Creations - mini, crap
Snackpackgu’s Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Karen Diamond Designs - template, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Mariscrap - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Pink’s Poetic Scraps - mini, crap
WinksArt Graphics - mini, kind of blah, but not totally crap
Graphics By PokaDot - mini, crap
The Brown Owl - nothing there that I could find
DSA Blog Train List
M&MDesigns - template, nice--worth the download
Graphics By PokaDot - mini, crap
SheCreates - template, nice--worth the download
Karen Diamond Designs - template, nice--worth the downoad
StarSongStudio - word art, kind of blah, but not total crap
EMS Arts - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Sugar Moon Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
2CurlyHeadedMonsters Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
Browneyedsusan Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Papierstudio Silke - paper pack, kind of blah, but not total crap
Susan Godfrey Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
A-Manda Creation - paper pack, nice--worth the download
Lisa Rosa Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
NutkinTailz Designs - mini, crap
A Fish Design - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Keep in touch Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
AADesigns - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
PattyB Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Gingers Scraps N Pixels - mini, crap
Jiovanna’s Creations - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Triple J Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
Scrappin Serenity - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Gail Cook - mini, crap
FranB Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
Created by Jill - Journal pieces, nice--worth the download
LJS Digital Designs - mini, nice--worth the download
Tattered Princess Designs - mini, crap
Seoul 2 Soul Scraps - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Digi Preserves - mini, nice--worth the download
Kristmess - mini with alpha, crap
DeepGirl Design (HATE this designer's name...lol!), don't like either of the freebies she has
Mscraps (Store) - mini, nice--worth the download
AK Designs - template, nice--worth the download
Studio Digilicious - paper pack, nice--worth the download
Little Feet Digital Designs - 2 minis, kind of blah, but not total crap
Phlox Dragon Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Leaving a Legacy Designs - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
Ponytails Designs - alpha, nice--worth the download
Lori Imel - mini, kind of blah, but not total crap
http://digiscrapaddicts.com/forum/showthread.php?39263-Happy-DSD-Studio-Flergs-is-back!
No more guessing
Who do you think had the best blog hop?
Having seen the DST blog train being filled with low average to bad contributions, and seeing comments in here on how bad it is, I am seriously wondering how they can get better contributions. Store trains have their own designers (they have filtered them before joining the store, hopefully). The Parade has been more or less exclusive and by invitation (from what I gathered) and although the contributions are good, people have complained that it is not fair because not everyone would be allowed. It looks like it is either "non-exclusive and not good" or "exclusive and good". Any way there can be a non-exclusive and good train? What about the newest designers who might actually be good? Where would they go?
My idea of blog trains: I usually don't download them at all. If I ride the train, though, I'll only download the parts that appeal to me, and leave the rest there. Take it or leave it, it's not going to make or break my day. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. But like I said, I don't usually download them at all. This time I looked and left most. I downloaded some of the templates. That is about all. I wouldn't call the rest crap though. I'd call it stuff I wouldn't have a use for.
Lol no one was guessing anymore 83. We all knew she was headed to SSD.
and she has a CT that doesn't mind
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Yeah, well, the ct for SSD don't have a choice but to work for her. They have to as do others who work for her collaborators. Therefore, it's not just about her and her own ct, is it?
After seeing the colors, I didn't waste my time with either one.
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Same here.
both SO's hop and DSA's are named Oh Snap. gee whiz, how fun.
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The big diff, however, is that SO's doesn't suck and..well, you know.
I wouldn't call the rest crap though.
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Some of it is total crap.
No Reimer Reason
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Just fyi - I had never heard of this designer until yesterday. She has a boatload of free templates on her blog and they're worth the dl'ing time and effort. Many of them are for multiple photos.
And I like SNP's template hop:
https://www.facebook.com/ScrapsNPiecesStore
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This has like 25 templates (just guessing) and it's worth it.
Thanks for the link to the snp hop. I probably will use more of the templates than any of the other things I picked up this weekend at the other hops. I've never shopped there--but will look around. I wonder how many shops are out there that nobody knows about. I think I saw a few of these designers when I collected some gingerscraps stuff yesterday. but most of them weren't on my radar at all.
Yeah, well, the ct for SSD don't have a choice but to work for her. They have to as do others who work for her collaborators. Therefore, it's not just about her and her own ct, is it?
Nov 3, 2013, 12:45:00 AM
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Of course they have a choice. Are all the babes being held at gunpoint to stay on the CT? There isn't a single babe that couldn't be replaced. If you don't like it, leave.
I'm a designer and giving kits to your Ct and a site CT less than 12 hours before a kit releases is rude and disrespectful and I would never do that. Just my opinion, but I think you should be more respectful of other people's time if you want them to showcase your product in the best way possible and help your business. I always feel bad if I hand my products off to CTM's any later than Sunday for a Friday release.
96, you're right to think about helping your business and respecting the CT's time. If your CTMs aren't showing off your designs to the best of their abilities (because you give them the products with no time to scrap), then your business could suffer. Designers need to think more as business owners than as designers/artists/"SAHM with a hobby that hopefully makes money". You need time to create the designs; the CT needs time to create LOs. The better the LOs (and the more "better" LOs they give you), the more likely the product is to sell. That's why I give product to the CT at least a week before it's released.
Halloween is over. The Christmas bombardment has begun! Not just the stores, but for the Christmas kits, too.
95: I think she's talking about other designers' CT members, not site CT. If the designer you CT for collabs with her, you're affected.
Of course they have a choice. Are all the babes being held at gunpoint to stay on the CT? There isn't a single babe that couldn't be replaced. If you don't like it, leave.
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I didn't say they didn't have a choice, I said they were affected and it wasn't just about KCB and her own ct. You're so hellbent on being hostile, you don't read and comprehend very well. Calm down. If you don't like it here, leave.
I'm a designer and giving kits to your Ct and a site CT less than 12 hours before a kit releases is rude and disrespectful
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Agree
98. I hate all the Christmas stuff out now - even from designers I like, I'm not buying it now (Scrapyrus is one). The Nov Daily Digi Files kit was full of Christmas. I didn't like them because they were not only Christmas, but they were also ugly. I don't like Christmas in November.
100 - You said "ct for SSD". To me, that means the site CT, too. If you want people to comprehend what you say, you should be more clear.
Can anyone share the digi files previews please?
97-Most CTM I know are on several teams. If all the designers that one of these CTMs have to design for wait until the last minute to give them the kits, then you are right, the layouts are going to show that they were thrown together just to get it done. The more time a ctm has with the kit, the better. Sometimes the designers I work with even get a 2nd or 3rd page because I've had extra time to use it. I don't usually do extra pages for the designers that don't get the kits out to us in a timely manner. There just isn't time to do that.
People who do Christmas cards like to buy Christmas kits sooner. It's really hard to get in the mood to do them, though.
I guess I'm one of those horrible designers who pushes deadlines pretty hard. I wouldn't dream of demanding my team produced a layout before the kit released, though. And candidly, when I get one done a week early, they don't work with it til the end of the week, anyway. Perhaps we are all a good match for each other. The truth is, no one stays with a designer if it isn't working for them. So judging from the outside really isn't that relevant, IMO.
Chiming in for The Digi Files for this month. Anyone has previews?
According this post on the Pinterest blog, "pin it to win it" contests are unacceptable. Judging by what I saw last weekend, designers and stores do not care.
http://businessblog.pinterest.com/post/64976400223/better-ways-to-reach-pinners
^^ It's more likely that they simply don't know about the new guidelines since the blog post you reference is just over a week old.
Judging by the way stores and designers do contests in general, they don't care. I haven't seen one yet that follows US law (if they're US stores or designers) regarding giveaways, contests, promotions, etc. Some stores have been called out on this blog in the past, but nothing ever changes. They'll bitch if you pirate (not that I'm condoning it), but they'll break other laws and not care. No law against being a hypocrite.
There's a pretty big difference between stealing a product (sharing it with others illegally, piracy, whatever you want to call it) and running a contest improperly. In one instance you're actually stealing something, and in another you're failing to fill out some paperwork or whatever. They both might be wrong, but I definitely view stealing as a far greater offense.
^ That was my way of saying "stop being so dramatic 110"
Not 110, but in some cases, if you aren't following the rules and regulations properly for give-aways, contests, etc. you may actually be stealing.
Digismacker . . . . . . . . NEW POST FOR NOVEMBER PLEASE!
Wonder if DeepGirl joining SSD means that Adrianka won't be releasing so many freebies in DeepGirl's store. When DeepGirl opened that and starting putting stuff from other people in her store, I thought that no longer counted as a "personal" store...?
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I am just catching up and found this post. It's laughable that someone thought Deepgirl was the new designer at SSD! Not only because I don't see why they would ever take her designs, but more because that is the girl from Nipplegate, isn't it?
106 said "Perhaps we are all a good match for each other."
^^^That's what matters. If y'all are procrastinators (I don't mean this rudely, I just mean that you work well on a deadline), then that's perfect for you and your team. I just hope that, when you make a CT call ad, you are completely honest about your last-minute release of kits to your CT.
I can't stand when a designer says in her ad "Kits given with at least a week's time before release! LOs due Weds." and then everything is given last minute. I had a designer like that. In the 6 months I CTed for her, she never--NEVER--gave us something with more than 2 day's notice. Sometimes she gave us stuff on the day of its release and would beg for LOs. That's totally fine for her (if she likes to procrastinate), but that it isn't what was promised to her team. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I have young kids at home. I don't have an hour or two to put a LO together during the day. And her begging for LOs (including passive-aggressive, veiled comments about how we're "not making enough LOs" for her) just got on my nerves. We can't make LOs with a kit until that kit is given to us. And we can't give you a LO Wednesday night for Friday's release if you don't give us the kit until Friday afternoon. I have not yet figured out how to break the laws of Space and Time. When I get my TARDIS, then I'll scrap for her again.
116-I'm wondering if I'm on that team. I could have written that post.
Just a general question - does anyone shop at scrapgirls? I've been digiscrapping for a long time, and just discovered them and found a few things from a couple of designers that I really like alot. I've never noticed any of their designers ever participating in the Digifiles, Scrapstacks, DST monthly kits either. Are they kind of like DSP where they just kind of stick to themselves? Not that anyone has to participate in the above mentioned programs, but I have found alot of new to me designers by buying the digifiles, or DST annual kits.
Yes they stick to themselves. Their stuff is hit or miss.
#116, LOLat space and time and the tardis! That would be completely aggravating, I agree.
120, I'm just glad someone got the reference. ;)
#121 - I got the reference and I'm going to see the 50th Anniversary special in 3D. I've been a fan since Doctor #3.
re: scrapgirls - they release a couple freebies every week - usually small elements or individual pieces of paper. They seem to have a fairly loyal customer base.
I think SSD is really having some issues financially. They're doing a LOT more sales than ever before, which is usually a sign of a sinking ship. "If people won't pay full price for our designs, maybe they'll buy if we discount the crap out of them..."
They first reduced the number of points needed for challenges calling it a "summer special." It's November, and they still haven't set the points required back to normal.
GGG (after not having one in ages), then that one-day-only Halloween sale, followed by the biggest sale season of the year (DSD, black friday, etc all piled up there together)... it's like Robin is basically begging people to shop there.
Gee, Robin, maybe people would actually shop there if your designers would bother to produce original stuff. However, after buying 3 kits from different designers with the same damn owl and seeing it appear in several others, I'm kind of over shopping there...
It seems like Flergs is kind of them scraping the bottom of the barrel hoping to find a dime... good luck there.
It seems like Flergs is kind of them scraping the bottom of the barrel hoping to find a dime... good luck there.
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Three years ago, I wouldn't have agreed with you, but now ... yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head.
Digismacker, we need a November thread!
DSP is being bought out by My Memories. Details on http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66752
I stopped shopping at SSD after I saw who they chose for Babes. Yet again choosing their friends over scrappers who inspire me to BUY PRODUCTS.
I thought their point system was way to high to begin with.
I don't think all the sales are a sign of a sinking ship, though. All stores have the sales mentioned above in one way or another. Even TLP does a 50% off day once a week. If SSD is hurting, maybe they're all hurting.
I did see a kit released over DSD from Ju and Jenn Barette that was $9.99 and nothing special in size. On sale it was $6.99. That's one way to have a sale and still get full price for things. Unfortunately, I'm not that stupid.
I did see a kit released over DSD from Ju and Jenn Barette that was $9.99 and nothing special in size. On sale it was $6.99. That's one way to have a sale and still get full price for things. Unfortunately, I'm not that stupid.
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I saw that same kit, too, and liked it. Then I saw the price, laughed, and shopped elsewhere.
Have to agree about SSD. I didn't spend a dime there this year, and I think last year they got about $75 from me during dsd. Strangely enough, I spent about $80 or so at SBG this time around.
^ ITA with this. I used to shop SSD religiously during DSD and other big sales. This time I didn't spend a dime there either and took all of my money to Pixels & CO and TLP instead and am very pleased with my purchases.
I was planning to shop SSD but I don't consider 30% off much of an enticing sale. If they are hurting they need to go to 40% for me to even consider purchasing. Hit 50% off and it's a done deal (I did buy during the Halloween sale). I don't mind the progressive sale things either (like what P&Co & SO did with higher dollar amount levels getting bigger % off). I couldn't find the time during the weekend to sit & find what I wanted so I missed P&Co's sale. They might consider adding Monday to their sale next time. They would have gotten my money for sure.
I think TLP 50% sale every week stands out from other big % sales. They seem to actually promote their older products with this sale, not just lowering the price to get sales. I think their team even makes new layouts with the older products. I think they run thoughtful promotions and they do the BYOC very successfully. I see other stores try to do BYOC and it just doesn't seem to work as well as it does at TLP.
Yeah, that kit that was $6.99 on sale just about floored me. But all of SSD's prices have been creeping up. Maybe the frequent sales are just a way to get people to buy thinking they're getting a deal, when those same prices last year were "standard, not-on-sale" prices. Total crap, imo. I'd rather shop elsewhere.
I hadn't shopped at SSD in a long time, and went back and saw the prices one Saturday (saw something I liked in the newsletter), and decided I was done. If their new Saturday prices are the old "regular" prices, I'm not willing to pay it. Maybe I'll go back during a GGG or 50% off sale, but even then, doubt it.
It's not that I feel designers aren't supposed to charge for their time or anything-- as a designer, I get it. We're underpaid. But maybe try shaking up your CU just a bit. I use CU, but not the same recolored piece and pattern in half a dozen kits. Put a little more original effort into it, and then the higher prices will seem worth it.
I agree with the sky-high price of kits at SSD. They're getting more ridiculous every year.
I had a ton of things on my wishlist from SSD, but I kind of got discouraged at the pricing as well and just decided to completely bypass them. I however spend about $150 in total with goodies from TLP, Pixels and SBG. Oh and a little from SO too. Overall very happy with my purchases and really didn't miss not getting anything from SSD this time around. I too noticed that the prices have been steadily increasing, and basically even with 30% off it's still almost the regular price of kits elsewhere. I am peeved that I forgot to shop @ Peppermint Creative before I was done! :(
Just thought I'd share something incredible that happened to me during DSD. I accidentally put a kit for $0. When this happened in my old store, a bunch of people took advantage of it and "bought" it. I know it's my own mistake so I can't blame anyone, but this time, a customer notified me in an e-mail. Because of her, I was able to reset the price without anyone downloading it. I offered her a kit of her choice as a thank-you, but she denied it and said anyone would do the same. Well, no, not everyone would do it. The most incredible part? Today, I got an invoice saying she bought the kit, the one that was marked down to $0.
Reading this blog so regularly, sometimes I forget there are truly great people in this community, and they keep me doing what I do. :)
That's nice to hear!
I keep reading about SSD prices creeping up over the last few years (they have but so have most of the better stores). After reading about how SSD was so expensive and people were shopping at TLP (30% off) and P&Co (35% plus off) for DSD instead, I was curious and compared prices: P&Co kits $6-$8; SBG kits $6.50- $9, TLP kits $5 - $9.50; SSD $7-$9. They seem to be in the same ball park, and their kits seem to be of similar quality, so what is wrong with SSD compared to the other stores? Just curious.
^^^^
Some of the complaints are that all the kits are very similar looking, including using the same CU across the board.
^^^^^
Like in almost all the designers using the same CU - I thought I saw some of the same things used in different kits- again and again, but wasn't sure? Do other designers use the same CU or just them?
A lot of designers use the same CU. For example, the satin flowers by Megan Turnidge because they were sold at $1 last Farmer's Market. I'm tired of seeing those flowers but I have them myself. The problem with SSD kits is that they are very similar looking, down to the color palettes. I bought several kits there during iNSD, but couldn't find anything new to want this time. I did buy from the Lilypad, which I'm appreciating more... they have more hand-crafted kits and I'm starting to mix elements on my LOs, not just those from the same kit.
139, people on here have mentioned before that P&Co prices are too high. I've never actually purchased anything at P&Co. I look and look and try to find something I find worth the price, but I can't. And I personally think SBG is too high as well, but that might be more to do with the fact that most of their designers don't fit my scrapping style (so I'm not willing to pay a premium price for a kit I probably won't ever use).
And IDK, but SSD just seems high to me. Gotta Pixel got my business for DSD, and I hadn't shopped there in ages...but I got some kits at half off. Who can pass up a $2.50 kit? (One was the exact theme I needed--but I knew I'd never use the kit for another LO, so why spend like $10 on a collab at SSD?) Hell, some of GP's kits at regular price were the same price as SSD kits on sale. But again, GP isn't really my style anymore. I'm more of a TLP style (more unique/handmade graphics).
I haven't looked at Gotta Pixel in years... who even designs there anymore. I never hear about them.
I do some of TLP designers because of their uniqueness.
Do other designers use the same CU or just them?
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I know that some of the TLP designers do because they were doing it when they were at ScrapArtist. Sure, they may changed since then but I doubt it, not those designers.
Re, The TLP designers - the ones that are unique, like Jacque Larsen and Kate Hadfield - I find I can't really use most of their stuff - the rest, they aren't that unique. What are people seeing that I'm not?
I am 145- I was thinking about those two plus CD. Kaye W. used to have some unique felt, etc., but her stuff looks like everybody else's now. Michelle G. has handpainted papers (I think) and Kim J. has several hand crafted things, but once I looked through the store, I realized that a lot of their stuff looks like everybody else's, and the rest of the designers seem to be similar to those at other stores.
I don't understand. How come WM Squared's bundles are "on sale" (it doesn't seem like a value to me since all I want is the kit), but her new kit Philly is NOT included in the 20% off new-release sale? http://scraporchard.com/market/great-escape-philly-digital-scrapbook.html
The templates are on sale.
http://scraporchard.com/market/State-Templates-pennsylvania-digital-scrapbook.html
Am I missing something? I hate buying an $8 "add on" as she calls those city/state kits. But I'd love to get the Philly one to scrap my hometown...during the new release sale. But now I'll just wait until April, when SO has its next store-wide sale (according to their DSD ad).
^^ #149: Maybe she forgot to add the New Release category to her product when loading it up into the store. If so, then it won't be automatically discounted with the others. You should email/message her about it.
139 - It may also have something to do with how much the sales discounted the prices as well. I purchased stuff at SBG for 40% and 50% off so that made a big difference. I remember last year SSD did have a storewide 40% off sale, I thought it was for DSD but it might have been for Black Friday. If they can discount at least 40%, that might entice me to spend.
oh - to add, someone above mentioned SSD's repeating use of color palettes, similar CU, etc. and that is something that I try to avoid also. For the NSD sale in May I bought 4 kits, and 3 of them from different designers actually had many exact same pieces of CU in them so I was kind of annoyed.
150, that's true. I don't follow her--I just saw the kit. I'd be super bummed if that's something she normally does. I checked out her store, and her St. Louis kit isn't marked down this week either, even though it's a new release. And its bundle and template pack are both on sale. I guess it could be a glitch.
It's not like it's thousands of dollars difference in price, but it seems shady to me--like she's trying to entice people to buy the bundle (because it's "on sale"). Unfortunately, I just want the kit. I'm sure other people will want the bundle, but I don't. I don't need the extras, which I can either make myself or I don't like. Plus, that bundle is a high price IMO. (But again, I don't want any of the extras, so I'm biased against it lol.)
Regarding WM[squared]'s Great Escape releases: A quick search on her blog reveals that neither the Philly kit or the St. Louis kit are new. The Philly kit was orginally released in July 2012 (http://www.wmsquared-designs.com/2012/07/26/destination-philly-a-boys-kit/) and the St. Louis kit was in June 2013 (http://www.wmsquared-designs.com/2013/06/27/great-escape-st-louis-more/).
The only new product in the bundles is the templates. She's slowly, but surely, adding a set of state/country templates for each of the Great Escape kits she's released. When those templates are released, both the templates and the bundle are considered new products. The kit, word art bits and alpha are not considered new and that is why they do not get included in Fresh Fruit or qualify for the new release discount.
154, thanks for the info! Like I said, I don't follow her, so I didn't know. I wish I had seen the kit when it was released. Oh well. It is full of themed elements (not a bunch of filler) so I might just bite the bullet and buy it.
Just a heads up, SO usually does a Christmas advent type sale with a different designer 50% each new day. If they do it this year too you might be able to grab it at half off.
Scrapmatters is closing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Where & when was this posted?
156, I love me some 50% off sales. :) Thanks!
157 I heard the same. I like it there, a little sad about it. I think Amber tried so hard to bring it back. Wonder where the designers will go?
Yes, ScrapMatters is closing!! Some good designers there, I wonder where they will find new homes....
Do any of you use stick images? I see one scrappers layouts all around, and it always has general pictures, no journaling, no personal items, no dates, nothing that ties her to the image. (I understand she can add that later, but just get the feeling she doesn't). I know its a creative outlet, but I don't think I'd use stock images. I'd rather go photoless.
Do designers prefer or like stock images?
*stock
Here's the announcement about SM: http://scrapmatters.com/forums/showthread.php?36552-The-End-of-an-Era&p=521514#post521514
Anyone knows why SM is closing? It is not bought out, it is not merging, Amber didn't mention health issues or other projects. I am just curious.
So sad, SM is my digi-home. Where am I supposed to go now? LOL. Where do you think some of these designers will go?
Complete guess but I can see KimB landing over at Pixels & Co. I hope she doesn't retire as I love her stuff!
I guess SM wasn't offered for sale??
I wouldn't have offered it for sale, either. Like that's ever worked out in the past... I hope the decent designers find new homes and the shit ones just retire.
Cluster Queen is going to SO.
I wish some of the better designers at SM would go somewhere besides SO, SSD, or SBG. So sick of them. If you are a designer from SM, take a chance on TLP, PBP, GS, or somewhere else. Please.
Would love to hear where you think each designer should go.
oh God no, not PBP. I HATE that store. GS has a nice community. Better designers would be a huge boost to that store.
A lot of the SM designers seem comparable to a lot of the stuff I see at SO and TDC - also GS. I think Amber (stolen moments) and Tracey (Clever Monkey) are the two stand outs of that bunch - but not sure where they would fit best. I'd love to see them at TLP, SSD, or P&co
Which stores are exclusive (or not)? TLP, GS, PBP, P&CO, SBB?
How many more designers can some of these stores hold? There's been some shuffling around lately and TDC & SBG just had calls recently. 26 designers at SO, 28 at TLP, 26 at SSD, 32 at SBG, 19 at P&Co and 17 at TDC (so probably some room in those two). Some of the designers at SM are good enough that I'm sure they can have their pick, but most of those stores can only have room for 1 or 2 at most. This will be interesting. With all the stores closing lately, there are starting to be too many designers for the top stores, so either we're going to see some new stores opening or some other stores are going to get some better designers. It's going to be tougher to make it in this industry if things continue on this path.
From what I know:
TLP = exclusive
GS = not exclusive
PBP = not exclusive
SBB = not exclusive
P&CO = I don't know
SBG = exclusive
SSD = exclusive
TDC = not exclusive
Those might have changed since the last time I looked at the requirements/calls.
Maybe they can all go to TDC. It certainly needs all the help it can get.
I really liked the free kit Pixels & Co gave away on Dsd but I hate the blog hopping and gathering letters for the code. I'd prefer to download the links on each blog.
Anyway.. I find Pixels & Co very expensive. They remind me of SSD a few years back..they have to get off their high horse. I also like the idea of a FWP kit but I lose track of it. There's a new one every Wednsesday?? I think... I follow their facebook page and so many others and I still can't keep track of the new FWP kit every week. The clue is to make things easy for customers, not hard.
I really like Karla Dudley's designs but I have to wait for sales.
It would have been nice to extend their sale to Monday on DSD.
Although I purchased a ton of stuff on DSD mainly from TLP, SSD, Peppermint Creative, SO, I can't wait for Black Friday sales..
I was disapointed with Brit-designs 30% and all the 30% sales in most shops. I hope they go higher on Black Friday.
What happened to Farmer's Market at SO? It's not happeneing again?
I can't see any of them being a good fit for TLP. I'd think most of them would be good for TDC and GS. Maybe Amber will end up at SSD. I still think SO is on it's way out and I bet a lot of them end up there. Although, I can't see how taking on designers from a closing store helps anyone. If they couldn't make enough to keep their store open, what value do they add to your store?
oh God no, not PBP. I HATE that store. GS has a nice community. Better designers would be a huge boost to that store.
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Hi T. I know for a fact what a few designers there are making and I wouldn't be so quick to judge. Same with P&Co. There may be something to say for staying out of the limelight and drama. Some of these less popular stores might host some well-kept secrets. I've found a few gems at each of them so it's no different than any other top-tier store. Not all of them are the bomb either.
From what I know:
TLP = exclusive
GS = not exclusive
PBP = not exclusive
SBB = not exclusive
P&CO = I don't know
SBG = exclusive
SSD = exclusive
TDC = not exclusive
Those might have changed since the last time I looked at the requirements/calls.
_____
You must not pay close attention then because didn't TDC just have a call? I know that they're exclusive, so your info is wrong.
hmmmm wonder if OSD will be trying to get any of them? I'm betting they could use a boost
Some of the designers at SM are good enough that I'm sure they can have their pick, but most of those stores can only have room for 1 or 2 at most. This will be interesting.
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I couldn't agree less. I think there aren't very many designers left at SM who can choose anything. I think we'll see a lot of retirements. I would be very surprised if we see stores like TLP, P&CO and SSD take any of these designers in. IMO they're going to have to settle for second-tier shops because they were lucky to be at SM in the first place - a shop that wouldn't have looked at any of them about 2 years ago.
Who are the good designers at SM and who are the not-so-good ones? I don't like Cluster Queen but she is going to SO.
#182, the "I hate PBP" post was not made by "T" - but it figures that people like you would assume that they know who is responsible for an anonymous blog post.
185 - I said some - Most of them will probably have a hard time. Stolen Moments, Kim B, Litabells, Clever Monkey, and possibly Zoliofrope, I would say could go to top stores. Apparently Cluster Queen is, though I wouldn't have picked that. Space in stores is limited, I think we may see TDC take a few since they seem to have some room to spare despite the call. We might see some go to GS or Oscraps?
IMO, I don't see Clever Monkey going to a top store. I think her kits are just so-so and the previews are atrocious. Her CU products are good though so that works in her favor.
And Stolen Moments stuff looks good but the quality isn't always the greatest. Textures don't go all the way to the edges, prints/patterns are pixellated, lines don't match up, resolution isn't 300dpi, etc.
Litabells is going to SBG...
I wonder where Juno Designs, Zoliofrope and Meagan's Creations will go.
re: using stock images..... perhaps the people who use stock images online are only doing so for privacy reasons. (ie. don't want real photos of their kids on the internet). Maybe they replace the stock photos with real photos in their real-life albums.
For all those stores welcoming so many "new" designers, I am wondering if it is overall helping them by adding quality stuff (as I guess they are thinking they are quality designers) or is it hindering it by watering down the real quality designers in a larger pool of stuff.
As a customer, what do you think?
Clever Monkey going to OScraps...
192. I am not sure I really understand your question. It seems as though you are being vague and not saying what you really intend to say. Are the new people quality or not? It seems to me you are saying they are perceived as quality but really suck when it comes down to it. I am not sure if I am reading this right but I sense that you are a designer at a store that is accepting new people and you are concerned that the new people's quality is not as good as your own and want to know what customers think? Is that where you are coming from on this?
I am trying to figure out whose interests you are concerned about here.
194 - I am just a customer, but I see that some stores are getting huge when they add those "new" designers who are left homeless after their store closes. The same thing happened in the last couple of years with so many "fairly well known" stores closed and designers had to find other places. I see that stores that might have had 12-15 designers in the past, are now having 20-30. They are becoming bigger and bigger, but is it a good thing? I remember comments from before, when people complained that this or that store was getting so big. Is it still as manageable by the owners? Will they be able to give as good service to their designers (like marketing, and such) to then offer as good stuff to the customers? How about quality control with twice as many designers (and maybe twice as many products)? Will some designers become "lazy" since they might take advantage of the traffic others will bring to the store?
I am just not sure, myself, if I will like to go shop in a store that gets bigger and bigger. More stuff I might like, but maybe too much work to go through even more stuff that is not my style, or that don't interest me.
And no, I am not a designer in one of those stores, although if I were, I guess I might wonder that too, but I am thinking as a customer right now. But maybe other designers might also have an opinion from the other side of the fence.
194. As a customer I don't really care how many designers a store has. I don't feel as though I have to sift through anything because I mostly just click on the individual stores of my favorite designers to see what is new from them. If I like the new designer I may shop from them. If I don't like them I just add them to the list of those I don't bother to look at each week. Nothing changes for me.
As a customer I don't really care how many designers a store has.
__
I agree with this. The more the merrier I say. If quality, etc. suffers, then I go elsewhere. I do wonder where these designers who love what they do, have a customer base and are left "shopless" due to no fault of their own, are supposed to go if not another shop? Should they just hang it up and do something else because customers don't want to sift through more stuff in the stores?
Since I have chosen not to shop at certain specific top tier stores, I hope my favorite designers don't end up there because they will lose my business. I don't want to punish them, but I certainly don't want to give my money to some specific store owners. Hopefully, they will either have another store I'll be able to shop.
Traci Reed's attempt to try to be Ali Edwards. It looks like she had her kids write these. SMH. Will people actually buy this??? http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=26531&cat=629&page=1
198, why are you being so secretive? It's a smack blog. Which stores do you refuse to shop at, and why?
Not trying to be secretive. I have personal reasons, and they might not be shared by others. I won't shop at SBG and when some of my favorite designers landed there, they lost my business. Period. I have seen attitudes that I don't agree with and I just "vote with my wallet".
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